About Robert, comte de Namur

Robert of Namur, KG (1323 – April 1391) was a noble from the Low Countries close to King Edward III of England. He was made Knight of the Garter in 1369.

His was the son of John I, Count of Namur, and Marie, Lady of Merode.

As a young man, he participated in crusades in Prussia and The Holy Land. His uncle Robert III of Artois, which had English sympathies, made him journey in 1346 to Calais to meet Edward III of England, who was besieging the city. Robert made a good impression on the King.

On 2 February 1354, Robert of Namur married Isabella of Hainault (1323–1361), younger sister of Philippa of Hainault, queen consort of King Edward III of England. Thus Robert became brother-in-law to Edward III. Robert captured the Escanaffles Castle in 1363. Robert brought Jean Froissart to England, and introduced him to Queen Philippa. In 1369, Robert defended the English camp at Tournehem against French attack. He was made Knight of the Garter in 1369 after the death of Robert d'Ufford, 1st Earl of Suffolk.

In 1370, Robert requested Jean Froissart to write a recent chronicle of the history of England. On 20 August 1371, Robert fought for Wenceslaus I, Duke of Luxembourg and Brabant, commanding 2,000 men at the Battle of Baesweiler, but was defeated and released after paying a ransom. In 1373, Jean Froissart completed his first book of the Chronicles and dedicated it to Robert of Namur.

Marriage and Children

On 2 February 1354, Robert of Namur married Isabella of Hainault (1323–1361), sister of Queen Philippa of England and daughter of William I, Count of Hainaut, and Joan of Valois.

On 4 February 1380, he married Isabeau de Melun (died 1409). Both marriages remained childless, but Robert is said to have had 9 illegitimate children.

JEAN de Flandre, son of GUY Count of Flanders & his second wife Isabelle de Luxembourg Ctss de Namur (1267-10 Feb 1330, Bruges, église des Cordeliers).

The Chronique Normande names "Jehan, Guy et Henry" as the three sons of "conte en Flandres…Guy de Dampierre" by his second wife "fille au conte de Luxembourg"[185]. His parentage is confirmed by the Continuatio of the Chronicle of Guillaume de Nangis which records the marriage in 1308 of "Johannes de Namursio filius Guidonis Flandrensis comitis"[186].

His father appointed him as governor of the county of Namur at Gent 5 Nov 1297, then ceded his rights to the county 2 Oct 1298, whereby he became JEAN I Comte de Namur.

His Flanders militia won the battle of Courtrai 11 Jul 1302, but was beaten at Mons-en-Pévèle in 1304.

Regent of Flanders 1302-1305.

The necrology of Floreffe records the death "IV Id Feb" in 1330 of "Johannis de Flandria comitis Namurcensis"[187].

The Continuatio of the Chronicle of Guillaume de Nangis records the marriage in 1308 of "Johannes de Namursio filius Guidonis Flandrensis comitis" and "filiam Roberti comitis Clarimontis"[188]. The Continuatio of the Chronicle of Guillaume de Nangis which records the burial "circa Purificationem beatæ Virginis...Parisius" in 1308 of "filia Roberti comitis Clari-Montis uxor Johannis de Namursio"[189].

The Continuatio of the Chronicle of Guillaume de Nangis which records that "Johannis de Namursio" married "filiam dominæ Blanchæ de Britannia" after the death of his first wife[190]. Her husband granted her as dowry the castle of Wijnendael in Flanders, ratified by the Count of Flanders in 1313.

She acquired the château de Poilvache from Jean de Luxembourg King of Bohemia 20 Feb 1342, and transferred it to her son Guillaume Comte de Namur 11 Sep 1353. "Marie d´Artoys contesse de Namur" acknowledged repayment of a loan from the mayor of Namur by charter dated 8 Sep 1343[191]. "Guillelmes contes de Namur" acknowledged receiving repayment of a debt due to "nostre…mère madame Marie d´Artois contesse de Namur et dame dele Escluze en Flandre" by the commune of Namur by charter dated 30 Dec 1356[192].

Comte Jean & his second wife had eleven children:

1. JEAN de Namur ([1310/12]-2 Apr 1335, bur Kloster Spaltheim).

He succeeded his father in 1330 as JEAN II Comte de Namur.

2. GUY de Namur ([1311/13]-12 Mar 1336).

He succeeded his brother in 1335 as GUY II Comte de Namur.

3. HENRI de Namur ([1312/13]-8 Oct 1333).

Canon at Chartres Cathedral.

Canon at Cambrai Cathedral 1324.

Canon at Chalon-sur-Marne and Reims 1325.

4. BLANCHE de Namur (-Copenhagen Autumn 1363).

She was accused by the noblewoman Birgitta Birgersdatter (St Birgitta) of having poisoned the latter's son, her innocence of the crime only being proved at the end of the 18th century[193]. She lived at Tønsberghus castle in Norway from 1358, because of the political situation in Sweden, and administered the fiefs of Vestfold and Skienssysla[194].

m (Bohus Castle 5 Nov 1335) MAGNUS II King of Sweden and Norway, son of ERIK Magnusson of Sweden Duke in Södermanland & his wife Ingeborg of Norway (1316-drowned near Bergen 1 Dec 1374, bur Varnhem Abbey). He was deposed in 1344 as King of Norway, and in 1363 as King of Sweden.

Froissart records that "le conte de Hainau…[sa fille] maisnée Yzabel" married "messire Robert de Namur et fu dame de Renais en Flandres et de Bieaufort sur Meuse" long after the death of her father[197].

m secondly (4 Feb 1380) as her first husband, ISABEAU de Melun heiress of Viane, daughter of HUGUES de Melun Seigneur d'Antoing (-1409).

She married secondly ([1394]) Bertrand de la Boverie (-5 Apr 1425), who became avoué of Liège 1413/25.